The Meaning of Connection

I have had a Strong Performance based value system. In fact, Performing for Love was my 1st major defined "character defect". I held to: Love was based on my performance: how I was loved based on my performance; and how I loved others based on theirs, well, almost... I was lot more forgiving of others than myself. I have learned, w are all Loved by God & therefore, Accepted "as we are". It's amazing how much "weight" goes away when we accept life. "as it is"

We tend to act automatically using what skills / tools we think  we're good with. e.g., "I have a hammer, so, everything is a nail". Here's a thought framework I call the Activity Loop, based on "adverbs". It's a bit of "thinking" before "acting". It works on small stuff & big stuff & everything in-between. Try it, you'll like what it does for you.

I am where my Decisions & past actions put me. I own it. There is no life with zero risk

I used to think about the Cross of Christ's Passion as all suffering - with shame in the punishment & abuse issued. I now see that may have been the purpose of the cross - to take all of that - for Christ to suffer that and die with it - for us. that simple thought opened my eyes to "my cross" - which I am directed to take up - may have suffering, AND it may have JOY My cross if the purpose God made for me.  I now choose to celebrate it, both the joy & the pain,